Carondelet St. Joseph's Hospital in Tucson, Arizona is recruiting an experienced Registered Nurse for a Charge Nurse (Clinical Lead) role on the Orthopedics unit. This position carries shift-level leadership responsibility — directing staffing, patient throughput, and unit operations in coordination with or in the absence of the nurse manager/director. St. Joseph's is a full-service acute care hospital established in 1961, home to the Carondelet Joint Replacement Center and a Level I Trauma Center, making it a high-acuity, subspecialty-rich environment for a clinician ready to step into a formal leadership role.
Perks and Benefits
- Sign-on bonus up to $10,000 based on eligibility
- Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
- 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match
- Health savings accounts (HSA); healthcare and dependent flexible spending accounts (FSA)
- Generous paid time off
- Career development and continuing education opportunities
- Employee Assistance Program and employee discount program
- Voluntary benefits: pet insurance, legal insurance, accident and critical illness insurance, long-term care, elder and childcare assistance, auto and home insurance
Practice Highlights
- Clinical Lead (Charge RN) role on the Orthopedics unit at a hospital anchored by the Carondelet Joint Replacement Center — a dedicated orthopedic subspecialty program
- Shift-level authority: supervises patient care priorities, evaluates staffing mix, manages patient volumes and acuity, and serves as acting unit manager/director when needed
- Responsible for real-time staffing decisions accounting for caregiver mix, current and anticipated patient census, and acuity levels
- Troubleshoots and resolves immediate clinical and operational issues; keeps nurse manager/director informed of circumstances and outcomes
- Facilitates consistent, adaptive care delivery as patient needs evolve across the shift
- Level I Trauma Center on campus, with additional service lines including cardiology, Comprehensive Stroke Center, emergency medicine, and labor and delivery
- Home to the Carondelet Neurological Institute — a resource for complex neurological consultation and cross-service collaboration
- Operates within the Carondelet Health Network, a well-established regional system with institutional support for professional development
Qualifications
- Active, valid Arizona Registered Nurse license required
- Graduation from an accredited School of Nursing required; BSN preferred but not required
- Minimum 1 year of clinical RN experience required
- Minimum 1 year of ICU experience required; Neuro ICU experience preferred
- Specialty certification from ANCC or an approved credentialing body (e.g., CCRN for critical care) required within 3 years of hire
- Proficiency with general and unit-specific patient care equipment, communication systems, and basic computer skills; ability to adapt to evolving healthcare technology and support staff through transitions
- Working knowledge of the Nurse Practice Act and professional nursing standards
About the Community
Tucson is Arizona's second-largest city, set against the backdrop of the Sonoran Desert and surrounded by five mountain ranges — offering year-round outdoor recreation including hiking, cycling, and rock climbing within minutes of the city. The metro area combines a low cost of living relative to other major Southwest cities with a vibrant arts scene, University of Arizona cultural and athletic programming, and a diverse, welcoming community. Tucson's warm climate, affordable housing, and access to both urban amenities and wide-open desert landscapes make it a compelling destination for clinicians relocating from higher-cost markets.